Runbow launched on the Wii U eShop last August to critical acclaim, cementing itself as a real gem for the storefront. Since then, 13AM Games has been keen to keep the game updated with fresh content, and has since announced that a portable edition will be on its way to the New 3DS, while a physical copy will soon be available on both platforms. To keep fans informed, the studio has now put out a brief Q&A on its main page with the details as to what Runbow fans can expect over the next few months.
First of all, Runbow Pocket has been delayed, with a new release window pegged for some time in Q1 2017. The delay was brought on by the game – particularly the online mode – not reaching the studio's quality standards, and a release date should be nailed down sometime around the end of the year. Next, 13AM confirmed that Runbow Pocket will have full online matchmaking, just like the original game, but at the expense of StreetPass and Local Play functionality. While the exclusion of Local Play may raise some eyebrows, the studio seems adamant that it wants players to have access to multiplayer at all times. Finally, it's been confirmed that the physical edition for the Wii U will be releasing on 25th October in North America, and the Shantae DLC will release for free on the same date.
What do you think? Does any of this get you more excited for Runbow's future? How have you been enjoying Runbow so far? Drop us a comment in the section below.
[source 13amgames.tumblr.com]
Comments 38
"the studio seems adamant that it wants players to have access to multiplayer at all times."
so obviously removing local multiplayer makes sense then?
what a joke.
local multiplayer makes up at least 50% of the game's value.
Good game, I just hope Local Multiplayer is a bigger priority than online for more companies again soon. I'd rather play games with my wife next to me out somewhere than a random dude online.
@CharlieSmile I have to agree, that's actually a dealbreaker for me. IMO, there's no reason to get this over the Wii U one now.
@MitchVogel
at least the Wii U version will be available in both physical and digital.
I'm wary of any game that removes local multiplayer only because whenever Nintendo takes down the wifi for this generation (Wii U/3DS) like they did for Wii and DS, there will be no multiplayer left to speak of.
The one time where online play over local play becomes a no-no.
Fantastic game.
Bought Paper Mario Color Splash on Friday, now all of these indie game articles are just another reminder that Wii U really has nothing left for the next 6 months until Zelda. Though I'll consider Yooka-Laylee to be a AAA release based on what I've seen of it so far. It's really more than even Nintendo has done lately on Wii U as far as a 3D game, Nintendo really likes it's 2D.
And for those who think Wii U has been dead for a long time, holiday 2015 it had:
Mario Tennis Ultra Smash
Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival
Devil's Third
Fatal Frame
XCX
Plus the usual Skylanders, Disney Infinity, Lego Dimensions
Oh yeah, Skylanders is next week on Wii U, but that's really about it at retail, for the rest of the holiday. That's just tremendously sad, b/c last year was bad, but it was a goldmine compared to this year. Nothin.
And really, I could just about stomach that if NX launched in November with 2 or 3 good titles, but March is a long ways off yet.
@ericwithcheese2 Nintendo did not take down the wifi. The used game spy servers and game spy went bankrupt taking down ds games, Wii games, and nearly 200 games not even on Nintendo systems.
@rjejr darksiders war master edition is on the way
I was going to buy the game but no Local Play kills it for me. Can we switch the local/online functionalities with this and Mario Maker 3DS please?
..online on the go?..and I don't get the headline pic, no local multiplayer means I can't:
Good going guys, ya' ruined Runbow.
Any plans for a European physical release of Runbow on Wii U?
I just starting playing Runbow with the humble bundle a few months ago and I have to say, it's a riot. Wish I had more people to play it with and love all the indie character skins. Free Shantae DLC. SWEET!
Great game, great dlc!! Bye.
I just can't get into runbow on my Wii u!! I love the concept but maybe I'm playing the wrong mode or people but it wasn't fun at all. I'll give it another go soon I think.
We all know that after a month nobody is to be found online. So local multiplayer is a must..
@ULTRA-64 me too... And I really don't understand all the excitement. In solo player I find it boring. Multiplayer is fun but I don't have people to play with.
I wonder what is it about the 3DS that makes the online a struggle to get up to par. I wonder if whatever the reason is, it's the same reason why Nintendo decided to do local online only for the upcoming Mario Maker port.
Removal of local multiplayer means a lot of lost sales. Would have been a must buy but now it's a no buy. Maybe try saying how disappointed you are on twitter and with enough people could be readded. Remove streetpass if you must but leave the local multiplayer alone!
And for Europe?
The one main gripe I have about the 3DS is the way most games handled multiplayer.
Games that should have it don't. No online for Terraria, no online for Mario Maker, MH3U,... No multiplayer in the SNES VC games.. and now this!
I'll still give it a punt if it's around a tenner.
Hopefully 3DS owners could play with Wii U owners, if not then this would be one of the few times where I think local play would have been the better option. Ah well, a physical copy of the Wii U version is nice and I might pick that up as I haven't got around to buying the Story DLC yet.
No Local Multiplayer?
... Yeah, I'll pass. The physical copy of the Wii U version looks tempting, though.
Local Multiplayer would have been a key selling point for me. Shame it's getting cut. (StreetPass I could care less about.)
@faint Thanks. I knew there had to be others. And I highly recommend it.
Are we sure it's still a thing though? Gamestop (US) doens't list it at all:
http://www.gamestop.com/browse/nintendo-wii-u?nav=28-xu0,135-1b0
and Amazon (US/UK), Base.com (UK) and Walmart have it listed for Dec 31, which is usually a placeholder. PS4 + X1S have Oct 25, which is only 2 weeks from today.
Maybe Wii U is download only? Which would still be a game. I didn't even know it got delayed until running it by Google just now. Maybe they decided to cancel the Wii U version when they delayed it last week?
http://www.gamingtarget.com/article.php?artid=16396
https://miketendo64.com/2016/10/06/wii-u-darksiders-warmastered-edition-european-release-gets-pushed-back-to-november/
@bouncer0304 @CharlieSmile You do realize the 3DS doesn't support local multiplayer the way the Wii U does?
It's not like you can just connect additional controllers to the 3DS.
What difference does it make if you have to connect via the internet instead of connecting via a wireless option to nearby 3DS's?
If they removed local multiplayer on Wii U, I would totally understand the anger and frustration, but removing it on a singleplayer-focused handheld console makes sense to me.
I dont see why so many are fussing over the lack of local. Their reasoning they want to make multiplayer easily accessible to players makes sense in a way. I find local multiplayer on handhelds to be kind of a hassle really since each player needs their own system plus a copy of the game usually.
@shani Going to have to agree to disagree here. From a streetpass group point of view, it would have been better to have had local over online and has actually put off the ones who were going to get it with us, especially since we can't always have a wii u running at certain venues we use for events and we use games which have single cart download play too so everyone can join in. Also having online comps on the 3ds as part of the group has been frustrating- some key examples are MK7 where people kept disconnecting, Blast Ball which has no way to play with friends (had to be abandoned sadly) and triforce heroes is nigh on unplayable online. Even Monster Hunter has had it's fair share of problems. So while it may suit others better, for myself and others in SPSW, we have changed our minds about buying it. A big shame indeed
@bouncer0304 Ok, that makes sense of course. I guess the thing is, I would never come into a situation where local multiplayer would be an option, so it's a lot easier to play online with people.
But I never thought streetpass and download play were still that popular. And you don't need an internet connection for those, right?
I hadn't heard of those connection problems, I only watched videos of people playing Trifiorce Heroes online and it looked fine, I almost envied them, because I like the idea of playing LoZ online and solving puzzles together.
Still, even with local play, I can't imagine Runbow being that much fun if everyone stares onto their own screen. For me, the fun of these local multiplayer games lies in sitting next to each other, looking at the same screen while battling and bantering each other.
If everyone sits in a bus with their own 3DS (that's how I imagine local multiplayer), you can't enjoy the multiplayer session anyway, because you're separated from each other and you can't be as loud and passionate as you would in your living room.
But I guess that's just me, I still can't get used to the idea of local multiplayer on multiple handheld devices...
@ericwithcheese2 The thing is this wi fi may last longer since it's first party. Wii and DS had a third party running their wi fi
@faint @TheLZdragon Thank you. I didn't know about that third party. I hope the wifi lasts longer for this generation, but given its free and the decreased install base for the Wii U/3DS, there may still be that risk that Nintendo sees it to be to expensive to keep them up and running depending on how the NX does.
Well that's inevitable anyway, though I doubt they'll kill it until at least 2017
Meh, doubt I'd ever find a friend who would want to play this over Smash in person anyway. Makes logical sense to me...
I think i may pick up both versions.
Losing Streetpass is a bit of a bummer, as well, since it was promised in an early preview. It also was the closest thing the game would ever have to an online leaderboard. Local Play though is very important. Heck, if anything they should be trying their best to include Download Play let alone forego them entirely.
More Shantae is never a bad thing.
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